It's Jules Verne's Birthday!

2. His father, upon finding out Jules was involved with the theater, cut him off and Verne became a stockbroker. He was actually quite good at it although he despised it.

3. He hung out with both Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas, who gave him writing advice.

4. Around The World In 80 Days was actually based on a true story. In 1870, US railroad magnate George Francis Train declared in the middle of his Presidential candidacy that he would travel around the world in 80 days or less. (It ended up taking him almost double the time. He tried twice more and finally, 20 years later in 1890 he managed to do it in under 80 days. 67 to be precise)

5. His submarine The Nautilus in 20,000 Leagues predated actual powered submarines by 25 years. In 1886, the first electric powered submarine was name The Nautilus after Verne’s creation.

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